GLASGOW, Scotland – Mel Pemble of Victoria was first in the women’s C3 200-metre flying start on Friday to stand second halfway through the Omnium event in Para cycling track competition at the ICU Cycling World Championships.
This year’s worlds encompass all cycling disciplines for able-bodied and Para riders in an event dubbed the Super Worlds. Canada has fielded a 16-member Para cycling team for the event.
Pemble, the defending world champion in the Omnium and scratch race, was the fastest in 13.138 seconds over the 200-metre burst.
The Omnium is the combined results of the individual pursuit, 200-m flying start, scratch race and time trial. There is no individual medal for the flying start event.
“I’m super happy with the placings and how it earned me some good points for the Omnium,” said Pemble, 23, a Paralympian in alpine skiing in 2018. “I was super excited for this event and the legs were a bit shaky. I’ll try and keep the stress and energy level down over the next day before my next race on Sunday.’’
Ariek van den Aarsen of the Netherlands is first in the women’s C3 Omnium after two of four events with 78 points. She was the top Omnium entry in the individual pursuit qualifying on Wednesday and was second Friday.
Pemble, third ranked in the pursuit, has 76 points and Richael Timothy of Ireland is third at 74.
After placing 12th in the men’s C2 individual pursuit qualification, national team rookie Tarek Dahab of Montreal ranked third in the 200-m flying start to move into seventh place in the category’s Omnium standings.
‘’I’ve made a big leap from the Quebec provincial team and I’m glad to be here,’’ said Dahab, a former police officer who was injured while cycling. ‘’It felt good. It’s great to be on the Canadian Para cycling team.’’
In the men’s one kilometre time trial for visually impaired racers, Lowell Taylor of Lethbridge, Alta. and his pilot Ed Veal of Queenstown, Ont. were 16th in qualifying and did not advance. The top-six moved on to the final on Friday night.
Taylor and Veal missed last year’s Para track worlds in France due to injury and this was their first kilo in over two years.
‘’The kilo is a really unique race,’’ said Taylor. ‘’It’s like a punch in the face but you just have to keep going. It hurts more than most other races. We’re happy but we were hoping to go faster.’’
The road races, which start on Wednesday, are the prime focus for the pair and they only received notice they would be on the velodrome start line last week.
‘’All of this is a gift, it’s just a blessing,” said Taylor about the track opportunity. ‘’The staff is amazing and to be intermingled with the able-bodied athletes and the broader team is really unique and special.’’
Veal has battled injury over the last year and was delighted to be back in action.
‘’There’s been a lot of ups and downs,” he said. ‘’A lot of rehab and now I’m having this surreal experience. Happy to be alive and able to pilot this guy [Lowell]. Anytime you get an opportunity to represent Canada it’s hard to put into words.”
On Wednesday, Keely Shaw of Midale, Sask. was the only Canadian to make the top four in the individual pursuit qualifiers. She will race gold in the women's C4 final against Emily Petricola of Australia on Monday.
Full results: https://www.tissottiming.com/2023/ctrwch?day=215
